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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=450322" target="_blank">
Knapp to fans: Don't give up on Rousey vs. Cyborg
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=450322" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=91&q=75&x=4&y=6&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=ronda-rousey-cris-cyborg.png" /></a>
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<p>Without Joe Frazier, there would be no Muhammad Ali as we know him. Greatness in combat sports comes not from utter domination, but from winning the great fights.</p>
UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is the best known female mixed martial arts fighter on Earth. She may even be the best know MMA fighter period. But she never had a great, defining fight.
The figure that woulda shoulda could give her that, and maybe more, is of course Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris 'Cyborg' Justino. For nearly two years the fight has edged closer and then receded back.
Now invicta FC president Shannon Knapp says it is closer than it has ever been.
"I can't really say that it will happen this year," said Knapp to Marc Raimondi for MMAFighting.com. "But what I can tell you is the fans should not give up, because this fight is closer than it has ever been -- ever. If it's gonna happen, I think we're gonna see it happen possibly by the end of this year or first quarter of next."
The pair will be fighting later this month less than a day and a mile apart. Justino, 29, defends her featherweight title against Charmaine Tweet in the main event of Invicta FC 11 on Feb. 27 in Los Angeles, live on UFC Fight Pass. Rousey defends her title against Cat Zingano at UFC 184, also in LA, live on PPV.
"I think it's going to be amazing," Knapp said. "And definitely I look at it as a landmark weekend for the women.
"Women have certainly carved out their spot in the sport and I think that's an amazing thing for the female athlete."
MMA promotion has only a few genuine heroes. But Shannon Knapp, whose #1 is goal is making a fight that won't even be in her organization, is on the very short list. And we all hope to see her dream fulfilled.
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